EasyJet claims weight restrictions are why it blocks those using power wheelchairs from flying

From The Guardian in the UK:

The airline easyJet has come under fire for preventing thousands of disabled people from flying on its planes by refusing to allow most powered wheelchairs onboard.

The airline refuses to carry in one piece wheelchairs that weigh more than 60kg without their batteries. Trailblazer, a campaign group for people with muscular dystrophy, claims this restriction excludes most powered wheelchairs, which weigh an average of 100kg with their batteries detached.

EasyJet blames the weight restriction on health and safety rules, which limit the amount each baggage handler is allowed to lift. A spokesman said that because the airline operated only short-haul flights and did not carry cargo, it did not have the aircraft or equipment necessary for lifting and carrying heavy objects.

"EasyJet welcomes more than a quarter of a million passengers with reduced mobility every year and we regularly carry powered wheelchairs, provided they can be collapsed into separate parts weighing less than 60kg each. This is a necessity to protect the health and safety of the baggage handlers who have to lift the wheelchair into the aircraft.

"The Civil Aviation Authority recognises that the carriage of such wheelchairs is difficult for airlines since they have to meet health and safety requirements, and considers that their carriage requires co-operation between passengers and the airline as to what is practicable.

"EasyJet follows this advice and therefore asks passengers with heavy wheelchairs to inform us at least two days in advance via our contact centre, of the total weight of their mobility aid and also bring the operating instructions with them to the airport."

He admitted that some passengers may have been misinformed that wheelchairs above the weight of 60kg were prohibited.

"We would like to apologise for those who have been incorrectly advised. This has now been clarified with our call centre staff and on our website so that everyone is clear about the policy," he said.

Disabled travellers, however, were not appeased. Hannah-Lou Blackall, a social worker from Hull who has congenital muscular dystrophy and uses a battery-powered wheelchair weighing 120kg, was hoping to fly from Gatwick to Krakow in Poland in September. Easyjet is the only airline which flies this route direct, but Blackall is unhappy about allowing anyone to dismantle her expensive and complicated wheelchair while she is travelling.

"It's not our choice to have to take a wheelchair," she said. "But as we do need to take one, we want it to be easy."

She said dismantling the wheelchair "causes stress for us and for everyone travelling with us".

Other airlines allow disabled passengers to take wheelchairs on to aircraft without weight restrictions, although Ryanair does have size limits written into its terms and conditions. BA allows passengers to take two wheelchairs on board, and says it simply uses extra staff to lift wheelchairs into the hold when necessary.

In its report All Inclusive?, Trailblazer also criticises airlines including Ryanair, which does not allow customers to use their own oxygen canisters, instead charging a £100 "tax on breathing" for those who require permanent ventilation.

It urges EeasyJet to change their rules in line with other airlines and for all airlines to follow the lead of those which provide oxygen service free of charge, such as British Airways and Virgin.

More than half of the 100 young disabled people surveyed for the report said that travelling by plane was so inaccessible that they were unlikely to choose it as an option, while many of those who had chosen to fly revealed experiences of discrimination.

Several travellers said they had landed in a foreign country to find their wheelchair had been broken by careless handling, while others said toilets on planes were so inaccessible that they were unable to use them, leaving one passenger unable to go for 11 hours.

Jagdeep Sehmbi, who has limb girdle muscular dystrophy, flew to Canada last summer and was disappointed with the way her wheelchair was handled. She said: "I was devastated when I saw my electric chair at baggage reclaim. The back was bent out of shape and the headrest was completely broken. I filed a complaint with the airline as this is the second time this has happened. Previously my chair had been put onto the conveyor belt and after falling off it had broken apart, with the batteries, control box, and other parts lying all over the airport floor.

"It is very upsetting when a piece of equipment that I am dependent on for independence on a day-to-day basis is damaged because of a lack of care or ignorance on the part of an airline company."

Trailblazers is calling on airlines to allocate specific places on planes where seats can be removed and wheelchairs can be clamped into place, providing greater comfort for many wheelchair users and ensuring wheelchairs are not at risk of being damaged.

Trailblazers project manager, Bobby Ancil, said: "It is totally unacceptable and discriminatory for leading airlines to impose rules making it impossible for disabled people to use their service. Powered wheelchairs are essential for many disabled people, not least many of the 70,000 people affected by muscle diseases. Suggesting that these people can travel without this vital equipment would be nonsense."

What Easyjet says: You will be permitted to take up to two portable items of mobility equipment free of charge. If you are taking a battery-powered mobility aid, you must ensure that its weight, excluding battery does not exceed 60kg. This is to comply with weight and size limitations in and around our aircraft and health and safety regulations that protect our staff. The batteries must be of the dry or gel, non-spillable, sealed type and they must be disconnected safely before it is loaded onto the aircraft.

What Ryanair says: Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking frames are carried free of charge. The 32kg maximum single item weight does not apply to mobility equipment. Restrictions apply to the transportation of battery-operated wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs can only be accepted on the basis that the battery is a dry or gel cell and the dimension of the wheelchair when collapsed will not be greater than the combined dimensions of more than 81cms (height), 119cms (width) and 119cms (depth). The passenger must show how the battery power is to be isolated and ensure that exposed terminals will be protected from short-circuiting. The battery must also be securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility device.

What BA says: You can take up to two wheelchairs free of charge in addition to your free checked baggage allowance (per person with reduced mobility). Wheelchairs will be carried irrespective of weight. If your wheelchair weighs over 32kgs (70lbs), please notify us at the time of making your booking, or contact us later but at least 24 hours before you fly.

What Flybe says: If you or any of your party require special assistance either at the airport or on the flight please let us know at the time of making your reservation by contacting the Flybe Customer Call Centre or, if you are booking online, please email specialassistance@flybe.com. We will require at least 48 hours notice of any special requirements. Flybe works with passengers on a case-by-case basis in determining whether we can carry motorised wheelchairs. Our rule of thumb is simple: if the wheelchair can fit in our hold, its weight can be supported by the aircraft and it is safe to transport, then we will carry it.